Joachim Kükenbieter, a Lutheran divine of Schwerin, Germany, wrote a letter to Pastor Johann Garthe at Hamburg in 1539 about Obbe Philips. He stated that Obbe had in that year moved to the territory of Mecklenburg in Germany, where he had a large following called "Obbiten," and intended to go to Rostock. This letter, which states emphatically that Obbe was a peaceful Anabaptist leader, is important for our knowledge of Obbe Philip's activities shortly before he left the Mennonites.